MAX Weapon Options

[ShadetheDruid]

Ok, so, not a new player, but this is roughly the right area to post I suppose. Put simply, I know shit all about MAXes (other than how to kill them), however I know there's a bunch of MAX fans around here so i'd like to pick at your brains.

I'm thinking about certing into a MAX at some point with my TR character, because it's something i've never really played before and i'm interesting in trying something different. I've tried out both the VS and TR MAXes a little (the former more than the latter, I think) and found it to be quite fun.

Now, i'm looking for advice on which weapons to use. Mostly AI weapons, but any AV advice is welcome. The important thing is i'm not much of an in-your-face CQC player, I prefer more mid range combat. I know that's not really something MAXes are made for, but as long as I can hit stuff close-to-mid range (I would guess i'm talking, say, 10-20m here, i'm not really sure how people define ranges), then i'm happy. I can't be dealing with shotguns at all, for example (hence why NC MAXes aren't getting mentioned at all in this post ), but I can do SMGs. I much prefer damage and accuracy over fire rate, generally (I have issues with TR weapons ).

So what would you recommend for the TR MAX weapons for someone of my playstyle? I know there's probably not a massive difference, but some might be more suitable than others. Anyone with knowledge of the VS MAX, feel free to chime in as well.

[wobblyone]

I have been meaning to ask the same question, although I play NC.


I'm in the same boat as you Shade, as in I have rarely played Max but have enjoyed it.
At the moment I have load outs for Infantry, AT or AA only. So I come out all guns blazing depending on the situation.
The problem here is if the situation changes I am only effective against one or the other

[Baneblade]

Every TR MAX that kills me is using one or more of the rotary machine guns. Nice weapons.

As for NC, I hear good things about the Dual Falcon (being able to whammy infantry and vehicles from range).

[OCNSethy]

I usually play TR MAX AI and AA. AI is great for clearing / defending rooms.

Ive been using twin Heavy Cycler since it has great reload speed and a huge ammo store.

Ive tried the M2 Mutilator but I wasnt too fussed with that one.

I had tried AT using duel Pounders but I dont last that long.

Certs: cert into Flak armour coz everyone will try and knock you out with explosives.

Charge is good for fast attack or running away

[Neutral Calypso]

There are 3 basic types of MAX weapons, but the vast majority of them are anti-infantry.

The other two types have only one real member in each: The anti-air and the anti-vehicle. Anti-air can kinda-sorta double as anti-infantry in a pinch, but anti-vehicle doesn't have much flexibility and tends to suck.

The basics for TR MAXes are Heavy Cyclers for anti-infantry, Bursters for anti-air, and Pounders for anti-vehicle. You will probably want both arms using the same gun. Trouble is, at start you only have the left-arm Heavy Cycler, the right-arm Burster, and the right-arm Pounder. The Heavy Cycler-Burster combo is your best bet as a Basic MAX because, frankly, if you want to take on a tank a Heavy Assault with a Decimator or even just an ML-9 will probably do a better job.

That and, anti-infantry, the burster is still semi-effective, whereas the pounder is not effective at all against infantry.

That being said, unless you have no idea what you are facing, and want to be ready for anything, you'll at the very least want to buy a left-arm burster and a right-arm heavy cycler.

As for the other anti-infantry weapons, I have been experimenting with the Onslought lately, but I hear very good things about the Mercy, especially as a longer ranged MAX gun. Nevertheless, the Onslought seems to give me better TTK against my enemies.

As for things which are not so weapons related, the MAX really benefits from flak armor. Most people are going to want to throw explosives at you, assuming their regular weapons do less damage (and they do) so you'll want better protection against that.

[luvthesnapper]

I have dual bursters, and only use maxes for anti-air. Works well.

[Calisai]

Originally Posted by OCNSethy

I had tried AT using duel Pounders but I dont last that long.

Yea, as a Mag driver, I don't see Pounders very often, and when I do... It usually ends up in a dead Max. Really, same with the VS AV varient. It's okay against other maxes, but against vehicles it seems useless to try.

So, I usually switch between AI and AA...... my AV loadout that I use infrequently is mixed AI/AV. for those times when there are a lot of maxes around...

I do tend to die when grunting to the heavy cyclers at longer range usually. NC scats pop me immediately at close range, but against a heavy cycler... I usually get to the point where I think i'm going to get away... before I die.

[mrmrmrj]

I find the Falcon to be of little use for infantry just because one's accuracy has to be quite precise and the projectile is hard to see after one fires so it is hard to know exactly how much to adjust aim.

[OCNSethy]

Originally Posted by mrmrmrj

I find the Falcon to be of little use for infantry just because one's accuracy has to be quite precise and the projectile is hard to see after one fires so it is hard to know exactly how much to adjust aim.

Not if your shooting into an on-rushing horde... aka @ The Crown

[Neutral Calypso]

Originally Posted by mrmrmrj

I find the Falcon to be of little use for infantry just because one's accuracy has to be quite precise and the projectile is hard to see after one fires so it is hard to know exactly how much to adjust aim.

When I said your AA can be used againt infantry in a pinch, I was assuming close combat. We're not killing 'em at mercy ranges here.

[Tycho]

The TR set up you want to use for maxes to engage at medium range is dual Mercy guns. The guys in my outfit swear by these guns because of their accuracy at medium range. I know nothing about VS maxes. I think you can trial these guns to see if they work for you. Good luck and have fun.

[ShadetheDruid]

Excellent, thanks everyone. Looks like the general consensus is dual Mercies, and if I pick up AV, the default version of the Pounder is the way to go (aside from dual bursters for AA, obviously). Flak armour being a must if you don't want to asplode all the time.

I haven't got around to starting the certing process on the MAX yet, still caught up in getting my HA sorted (got myself the TMG-50, just need to cert it out). But at least I know what i'm aiming for when the time comes.

[psijaka]

Originally Posted by ShadetheDruid

Flak armour being a must if you don't want to asplode all the time.

Don't overlook the usefulness of Charge; saved my skin many a time whilst running MAX. I usually survive a Liberator attack just by running for cover; also very useful when you are caught by a tank out in the open or when things start getting a bit too hot during CQC.

[Binkley]

I only play NC, but maybe this will be helpful anyway:

MAX units
Buy the gun for the other arm, you should be dual-burster (AA), dual-falcon (AT), dual-scatter or dual-hacksaw (AI). Unlike a tank, a MAX can re-arm (changing from AA to AT to AI) without waiting out a timer. In any MAX, to be most effective you need an engineer to keep you repaired and full of ammo. They should be happy to do this as they will likely earn more XP than you will. As a MAX your secondary function is to be sniper bait. Stupid enemy snipers will shoot at you, but they can’t do much damage to a MAX and they will give away their positions so your snipers can kill them. To be good bait, wander close to the edge of landing pads (don’t fall off), stand in doorways, etc..

The AA MAX (dual-burster) is effective against air only. It’s possible to kill infantry with direct hits, but not efficient, so don’t waste your time unless there are zero air targets. Reload early and often. Your best chance to kill is by hitting with many shots at close range, so don’t be caught with a half-full magazine when that mosquito makes a strafing run at you. Fire both arms simultaneously. Practice, you need to lead aircraft a lot when they are moving fast.

The AT MAX (dual-falcon) is effective against armor at any range, and against infantry at medium to long range. The Falcon has huge projectile drop, and very slow projectile speed, but once you master those, it is very accurate and deadly. It also has very long range, so use it. At the Crown, for example, shelling those Magriders sitting on top of the hill to the south is a must. It’s hard to kill them (because they hide and repair often) but one AT MAX can suppress the effectiveness of 3-4 Magriders. To effectively fight tanks, you need cover because your reload time is long. Pop out of cover, fire left and right arms, pop back in, reload, repeat. This also allows your engineer to stay in cover. I like to fire one arm and then the other, often with a small adjustment to my aim to spread the shots slightly. Using the same tactics, you can farm infantry as they come across the bridge from Ti Alloys and try to run up the hill.

The AI MAX (dual-hacksaw) is effective against infantry only, and only at very close range. This relegates it to indoor use, usually camping a particular room. To be effective you must close the range on your enemy quickly. Use your running-charge ability to close range, and stay in rooms as much as practical. Dual-Hacksaws can one-blast-insta-gib enemies at short range when fired together, but in most cases I fire one arm and then the other to avoid constant reloading. Certing the extended magazines is expensive, but probably worth it. I haven’t tried slug ammo, but others tell me it’s not worth it and I think slugs are inconsistent with the AI MAX’s primary job of defending a control point inside a room.

[Takoita]

My experience with TR MAX is not that great, but there are some tidbits I can share.

Pounder (the one and only AV atm) is kinda meh. Well, it does damage, but that's about it. I can't reliably hit on any real distance with them, what's with no zoom optics and dot reticule and something in the ballpark of 22-28 direct hits (with very little splash and no timed detonation mode to boot!) per tank. And at closer ranges HA with missile launcher, C4, AV grenades, smaller size and better mobility flatly outperforms MAX in any situation. Very little damage against infantry and other MAXes is the final nail in the coffin.

(NC analogue is however lethal in anti-infantry work; yes it may be difficult to aim, but 2-3 bodyshots to kill is nothing to sneeze at, so beware).

Out of AI guns I've personally shot only Heavy Cycler (default) and Mercy (highest accuracy). HC is... random. Really random. Sometimes it is utter crapshoot, sometimes it lands 3 headshots on a target ~25m away in a row. It does kill noticeably more when paired up with Mercy though, so maybe that "all over the place" CoF does help in finishing wounded targets and Dual HC is a viable option? Haven't tried it, so can't say either way.

Mercy simply has the least spread of them all, so it ends up as the most suggested weapon. Oh, and 'less ammo' is not a real disadvantage for this gun, or at least not for me - I usually don't live long enough to run out of ammo on AI guns